After Sam accepted Jack's proposal, they never made it to the fishing part of their day. Instead, they'd sat down and talked – openly talked – about the things they'd tried to keep firmly hidden away and off-limits over the years. Jack had quietly confided in her about Charlie; what he was like as a little boy, his tragic death, and the kind of man Jack had become in the aftermath. Sam had quietly shared details of her life; the consequences of Jacob's decision to choose work over his family, her time in the Academy, and her troubled relationship with Jonas Hanson.

It had been a cathartic experience, but it had left them both exhausted as the afternoon turned to evening. After dinner, they moved to the living room and Sam claimed her spot on the couch as Jack lit the fire. He soon joined her and propped his feet up on the coffee table, his legs crossed at the ankles while he rested one arm along the backrest of the couch. Sam handed him his beer and he took it before he pulled her closer against his side. She leaned her head on his shoulder and nestled perfectly to his side as she tucked her feet underneath her.

"You OK?" he mumbled into her hair.

She nodded, then snaked one hand across his stomach before it came to rest on his chest.

"You?"

"Never better," he replied honestly.

She couldn't help but smile at his tone and she relaxed further against him. Her eyes started to slip closed.

"What time are Daniel and Teal'c arriving tomorrow?"

"Late afternoon," Jack said as he took a drink. "So, we'll have the morning to ourselves if you want to go into town or –"

"It's OK," Sam interrupted sleepily.

A moment later she felt Jack lift his shoulder to nudge her just slightly. "You can't fall asleep on me yet, Carter."

She prised open an eye and twisted so she could look up at him without lifting her head. "Hmm?"

"Have you thought about what you want to tell them yet?"

She sighed softly. "No."

"We'll figure something out," he reassured her.

"Maybe we could tell them over dinner," Sam suggested a few minutes later.

"We can do that," he nodded, then smirked. "Does that mean we have to be discreet until then?"

Sam tried to stifle her laugh at his question and buried her face against Jack's shoulder, making him smile. He then moved so his hand was now in Sam's hair; his fingers gently tangling as he twisted and twirled the occasional strand before he let them go.

"Mm, that's nice."

She let Jack continue to play with her hair; the gentle actions pulling her once more towards sleep. She sighed contentedly. "Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Tomorrow, can you teach me to fish?"

"I thought you'd never ask," he grinned.

She smiled. "Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too," she whispered.

She felt him momentarily freeze at her confession before he released a shaky breath and tightened his hold on her. Seconds later she felt him press a kiss into her hair. It was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.


A persistent – and slightly annoying – weight on Sam's shoulder pulled her from her sleep.

"Sam? Wake up for me."

She groaned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jack chuckled, "but there's something you've got to see."

She sat up and blinked into the semi-darkness. "What time is it?"

"Early."

With that, he pushed away from the edge of the bed and headed for the door. "Meet me in the kitchen in five – and grab a sweater," he threw over his shoulder as he disappeared down the hall.

Sam watched him leave but kicked back the covers, only to pause when she realized that Jack must have carried to bed last night after she'd fallen asleep. She pulled a face and debated over whether she should apologize or not, but then decided that he'd bring the subject up if it really mattered. She reached for her sneakers and sweatshirt and as she stifled a yawn, headed for the kitchen.

"So, what do I need to see at five o'clock in the morning?" Sam challenged as she glanced at her watch in disbelief.

Jack grinned again as he turned to face her. "You'll see."

She studied him for a moment and then realized he was dressed in a pair of jeans and a black half-zip fleece, while Sam was still wearing her flannel pajama bottoms, white tank top and an old Air Force sweatshirt.

"Should I change?"

"Nah," he said as she reached for her hand, "you're perfect. C'mon."

With that, he led her out of the kitchen and outside, around the side of the cabin and towards the dock. He stopped close to the water's edge and then pulled Sam to him so her back rested flush against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her right shoulder so his lips were close to her ear.

"Jack," she said as she rested her arms on top of his and linked their hands together, "what are –"

"Shush," he whispered, "just wait."

A few minutes later, Sam realized what he'd wanted her to see and she watched with wonder as the night sky disappeared to reveal the most beautiful sunrise she had ever experienced. Ever-changing streaks of color filled the sky as the sun slowly appeared from behind the mountains and rose higher and higher.

"Well?" he eventually asked.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Worth getting up at five in the morning?"

She turned her head to look at him, her nose brushing against his, and grinned. "Ya sure you betcha."

Jack held her gaze for a moment longer before he straightened. "I have something for you."

He took a step back and Sam turned to face him more fully. She watched in confusion as he shoved a hand into his jeans pocket and then quickly removed it.

"I kind of messed up the proposal," he said, "but I wanted to do something right."

Slowly, he lifted his hand and Sam's attention fell to the small black box that rested in the palm of his hand. She gasped in surprise and at his encouraging nod, she took it from him and opened the lid. Nestled perfectly in the middle of the box was an engagement ring; it was platinum and had a single round-cut diamond set in the centre with a smaller blue topaz on either side. It was elegant and beautiful and perfect and she wasn't quite sure just how Jack knew her ring size, or when he'd chosen a ring, but decided that it didn't matter.

Jack's hand suddenly rested on top of hers and he slid the box from her grasp to take the ring out of its holder. He then reached for Sam's left hand and raised a brow in a silent question. She nodded and an excited, if slightly nervous, chuckle escaped her as she watched him slide the ring onto her finger. He squeezed her hand before she entwined their fingers and lifted their hands so she could see the ring.

"It's beautiful," she said.

"Yeah, it is," he agreed, only his attention was on Sam rather than the ring.

He leaned in and kissed her.